Battery terminal connector



W. S. THOMAS BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR May 2, 1939.

Filed Dec. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. l/zi/zm 5: 7207245,

Z5 6: I BY" y 4 ORNEY.

y 2, 1939- w. s. THOMAS 2,156,411

BATTERY TERMINAL; CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 19, 1936' 2 Shets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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v 35 Figure 1. 7

Figure 5 is a cross section ofa modified form Patented May 2, 1939 mm .ST-ATE s" PATENT orrica Bursar TERMINAL comvno'ron illiam S. Thomas.

Montoursville, Pa., assignor of nineteen per cent to- Joseph G. Saricks, 2nd,

Freeland, Pa.; Flock, nineteen nineteen per cent to nineteen per cent to Herbert T.

per cent to Stanford- Hughes G. Meaker, allot Flock,

per cent to Christian R. Nielsen, Washington, D. 0. Application Dccember19, 1936, Serial No. 116,813 9 Claims. (01. na -259) invention relates to -a terminal connection and more particularly to a device ofthis kind adapted particularly for use with the post of a storage battery, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

- It is the cardinal purpose of the invention to 1' provide a clamp wherein a binding pressure is provided at diametrically opposite points, insuring positive retention of the clamp upon an ened P 512.

It is also an object of the invention to provide 7 .a novel construction of dual cam means for ef- 15 fecting the actuation of the clampthrough a single rotative operation. I It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel construction ofbushing for the pivot bolt of the cam, whereby corrosion and sulpha .tion' prevents locking or freezing. of} the bolt.

, It is a still further'object of the invention'to provide a novel construction of clamp in which a portion thereof. is caused to grip positively i into the body of the battery post.

, Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the.

1 accompanying drawings, wherein v m Figure l is a top plan view of a connector engaged upon a post of a battery. j

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in open position. I I

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts as shown in Figure 2.

. Figure 4 is a cross section on'the line 4-4 of of clamp. v

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a further modified form of clamp, partly in section.

.Figure 7 is a top plan' view of the device constructed for use-as a positive terminal connection witha battery. I

Figure 8 is a plan view of .b 45 Figure 9 member. Figure 10 is-an elevation of the cam assembly shaft.

' Figurell-ls end view of the cam assembly the post of a battery,

50 shaft;

of clamp.

Figure 13 isla cross section of a modified form I of jaw. 56 There one of the jaw "mem-gv is a similar'view of the 'otherijaw Figure l2is a top plan view of a further form is illustrated a battery past it 'or simi "lar terminaLwhich as heretofore constructed has a tapered formation in the direction of its length, upon whichthere is secured a terminal clamp ll. 4 v

The clamp It comprises two sections in .the form of jaws l2--l3, identical in construction,

arranged in side-by side relation, and each in-' cludes socket portions 14 into whichone end of a cable I5 may be inserted and secured, as by weld-, ing or otherwise. It will be apparent thatby this manner of connection. with the cable,- the sections l2-i3"may have individualffree movements permitting the sections to readily adjust themselves to a-battery terminal.

The sections l2-I3 each-have formed in their opposed faces a semi-circular,taperingrecess- I5,

corresponding to the taper ofthe battery post, so

that the sections will snugly engage the post.- An ear I1 is formed integrally with each'section,

and includes an aperture l8; the apertures being aligned and bushed as-at- IS. A pivot bolt 20 is rotatably mounted-in the bushing and extends transversely of the post, when engaged by; the

clamp, as maybe seen in Figures 1v and 2. The bushings 19 are preferably formed of fiber lubricating substance as desired, so as to elimior other suitable materiaLimpregnated with a;

nate locking or freezing through the building I up of copper sulphate between. the bolt 20 and ears l'l.

Upon the exterior surfaces of the seams l2 and. II, at points opposite the recess 16, cam

faces 21 are formed, each cam face having a taper in an upward direction, as may beseen in Figures 1 and 2, the taper stopping short adjacent the base of the sections. Y

The bolt 20 has formed at each end acam 22,

each cam being in the form of anelongated member of a length-to extend beyond the vertical axis of the-x batterypost, and each cam has formedu'pon lug-18.6813. Each cam. further has formed .as

its under longitudinal edge a taper- ;/an integral partthereof .a hexagonal nut Ztconstituting a means for rotating the bolt. Thebolt 20, "cams 22 and nuts 24. may be formed as an integral assembly either by welding, swaging or forging operation,

expedient.

In use, the assembly clamp is positioned upon the recesses 16 loosely embracing the post, the cam members 22 being in the position shown in Figure 2. A wrench or a pair of pliers is applied to either of the nuts 24 to-rotate the bolt 20 in a direction to. cause the cams 22 to move into engagement with the secwhichever may be found most tions l2l3. Such movement or the cams brings the faces 23 thereof into engagement with respective inclined faces 2| of the sections l2-I3.

Rotation of the cam assembly is continued until the cams have moved downwardly upon the faces 23 toa point slightlybeyond dead center of the bolt. Obviously, this movement of the cams causes the sections l2 l3 to move inwardly toward each other, positively gripping the post, and by reason of movement of the cams to a position beyond dead center of the pivot bolt the cams will be held firmly against loosening movements. To release the clamp rotation of the bolt is reversed, allowing the sections to release the post. It should be noted that the cams are of a length extending beyond the vertical axis of the battery post and that the clamping pressure is mainly upon the post at diametrically opposite points, which insures a very positive grip upon the post.

It will be noted that equal distribution of pressure upon the jaws l2-l3 prevents distortion "of the jaws and insures proper fit thereof upon the battery post.

In Figuresfi and 6 I have shown modifications of the structure of the members l2| 3, embodying means partly penetrating the battery post under clamping action. In Figure 5 the interiorfaces of the members l2-|3 are provided with a projected annular rib 25, and in Figure 6 a pair of screws, pins or boss 26 are mounted in the members |2-I3, projecting a slight distance outwardly of the recess l6, and preferably, are positioned at diametrically opposite points.

In either of these forms of the device, upon actuation of the cam to locked position, it will be apparent that the ribs or screws, as the case maybe, will be forced into the post which will be possible due to the fact that the metal constituting the-post is comparatively soft.

While the structure shown and described in Figures 1 to 6 could be admirably used in connection with the positive terminal of a battery, complications might arise in the connection of the positive cable to the jaws of the clamp, and still maintain the necessary free lateral movement of the jaw members. In Figure '7 I have shown a form of clamp especially designed to accommodate the positive cable, and for an understanding of this constrrction, attention is invited to Figure 7,

wherein the jaw member I2 is provided with a socket 2'! into which the cable 28 is inserted and secured, as by soldering, welding, or otherwise. The complemental jaw 13 includes a boss- 29 adapted to register with a pin 30 and when assembled thereon the jaw l3 will have lateral movements with respect to the jaw l 2? the'pin 30 acting as a support'and guide. If desired, the aperture of the boss may be bushed as at 3|, and this bushing will be impregnated with lubricant or otherwise treated to prevent sulphation.

It will be obvious, of course, that the pin 30 could be formed of fiber, suitably treated, and in such event the bushing 3| could be omitted.

The jaws l2 and I3 will have cam members 22 formed as previously described, and the operation will be as stated, that is to say, when the cam members 22' engage the cam faces of the jaws, the latter will be moved toward each other, gripping the post firmly therebetween.

The assembly of the cams upon the pivot bolt may be accomplished in various ways, in order to obtain a unitary movement of the cam assembly, and in Figures 7, 10 and 11, the bolt 20 is shown as having fluted ends 32 and the diameter of the bolt is slightly greater than the aperture 33 formed through the cams 22. Thus, the cams 22 will be pressed upon the fluted ends 32, the flutes cutting into the metal of the cams and the ends of the bolt finally upset or peened.

This construction permits ready assembly of the parts and it will be clearly apparent thatthe cams will be positively keyed to the pivot bolt for unitary movement.

In Figure 12, I have illustrated a structure of clamp in which a single cam functions to lock the clamp upon a post. In this form the jaw 34 is made-quite'heavy at the point of engagement bers, for the purpose of eliminating sulphation between the cam and jaw at their points of contact. The same results may be obtained-however, by providing an insert in the face of the cam members rather than the jaw members.

While I have shown and described certain preferred forms of my invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: e

1. A terminal connection comprising a pair of laterally separable members each of which include a recess for receiving abattery post therebetween, a bolt journalled in the members at one end, a laterally extensible flexible elastic cable member connected to the other ends of the members, and an elongated cam member on each end of the-bolt member and movable to a clamping position upon respective members at diametrically opposite sides.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cam members are of a length extending beyond the vertical axisof the post and movable to aposition beyond dead center of the longitudinal axis of the bolt. a

3. A terminal connection comprising a 'pair of members each of which-include a recess for receiving a battery post therebetween, a bolt journalled in the members at. one end, a flexible elastic cable member connected to 'the other ends of the members, each of said members having a cam face upon their exterior surfaces and positioned at diametrically opposite sides, an elongated cam member fixed on each end of the bolt, each cam having a cam face cooperable with respective cam faces of the members, and an angular head on the ends of the bolt whereby the bolt and cam members may be'rotated in unison.

4. A terminal connection comprising a pair of jaw members yieldinglyconnected at one end, an

ear on the other end of each jaw member, each ear having an aligned aperture, each jaw having a semi-circular recess for reception of a'terminal post, a cam face on the exterior surface of each Wardly of each'jaw member, an angular head on the ends of the bolt whereby the bolt and cam members may be rotated in unison, to a position in engagement with the sides of the jaws,

-iaws jaws, said cam members being oi a length exand said cam members'having cam faces cooperable with the cam faces of the jaws'whereby to move said jaws into binding engagement upon a 5. A terminal connection comprising a pair of jaw members, each of said jaws having a socket at one end for reception of a flexible elastic cable member, the other end of each jaw member having an aperture, a lubricant-impregnated bushing in each aperture, said bushings being alined and receiving a bolt therethrough, each jaw having a semi-circular recess arranged in opposed relation for receiving a battery post therebetween, a cam face on the exterior surface of each jaw positioned at diametrically opposite points, an elongated cam member on each end of the bolt disposed outwardly of respective jaw members, said cam members having cam faces cooperable with the cams of the jaw members when said cams are moved into engagement therewith, andsaid cam members being of a length extending beyond the vertical axis of an engaged battery post and movable to a position beyond dead center of the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

6. In a terminal clamp, a pair of separable jaw members adapted to receive a terminal post therebetween, one of said jaw members having a laterally extended pin, the other of said jaws having anaperture for reception of the pin, and elongated cam members journalled outwardly of the I e and movable into clamping action with the tending beyond the vertical axis of an engaged battery post.

members, each 0! said jaws having a semi-circular recess for reception of a terminal post, one of said jaw members having a socket at one end for securement of a cable, a laterally extended pin on the jaw member, the other of said jaw members having a bushed aperture receiving the pin, ears on the other ends of the jaw members, each ear having aligned hushed apertures, journalled in the ears and including a cam member disposed outwardly of each jaw member and of a length complemental to cam faces on the jaw members and means for rotating the cam members in unison. I

8. The structure of claim 7, in which the cam faces include impregnated fiber insert portions.

9. A terminal connector comprising a pair of laterally separable members each of which include a recess for receiving a battery post therebetween, a bolt journalled in the members at one end, a laterally elastic cable member connected to the other ends of the members, and a cam member on each end of the bolt member movable to a clamping position upon respective members at diametrically ,opposite sides.

, WILLIAM S. THOMAS.

abolt' 

